Качественные методы в политических исследованиях

Бакалавриат 2026/2027

ID 1123879

Статус: Курс обязательный (Политология и мировая политика)

Кто читает: Департамент политологии и международных отношений

Где читается: Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук

Когда читается: 2-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Охват аудитории: для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ

Преподаватели: Баскакова Екатерина Юрьевна

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 5

Контактные часы: 60

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

This course is an introduction to qualitative research methods in political science. The course aims to equip students with the methodological foundations and practical skills necessary to design and conduct independent qualitative research projects. Students will explore the philosophical underpinnings of qualitative inquiry, learn to distinguish between quantitative and qualitative approaches, and master key data collection techniques including participant observation, interviews, focus groups, and document analysis. The course covers ethical considerations in fieldwork, data preparation and coding, and various analytical approaches such as thematic analysis, content analysis, grounded theory, narrative analysis, and discourse analysis. By the end of the course, students will be able to formulate research questions, design a qualitative study, collect and analyze data, and present findings to different audiences.

Learning Objectives

● Introduce qualitative research methodology in political science (history, paradigms).
● Distinguish quantitative and qualitative strategies and select appropriate methods.
● Collect qualitative data: observation, interviews, focus groups, documents.
● Train fieldwork ethics.
● Train practical handling of qualitative data: from transcription and coding to applying diverse analytical approaches.
● Develop ability to present research findings clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing, for academic, policy, and public audiences.
● Foster critical reflection on the link between theory, method, and research design.

Expected Learning Outcomes

● Identifies key qualitative methodologies in political science.
● Distinguishes between ontological and epistemological positions and their implications for research.
● Designs and conducts qualitative data collection using interviews, focus groups, observation, and document analysis, while adhering to fieldwork ethics.
● Prepares, transcribes, and codes qualitative data systematically.
● Applies major analytical approaches to qualitative data analysis.
● Formulates clear research questions and designs a coherent qualitative research project.
● Presents research findings effectively in oral and written forms for academic, policy, and public audiences.

Course Contents

Introduction to the Discipline: History, Paradigms, and Quantitative vs Qualitative;
Data Collection: Observations;
Data Collection: Interviews;
Data Collection: Focus Groups;
Data Collection: Documents, Archives and Media;
Fieldwork Ethics;
Analyzing Qualitative Data;
Content Analysis;
Thematic Analysis;
Grounded Theory;
Narrative analysis;
Discourse analysis;
Writing and Presenting Qualitative Research;

Assessment Elements

Individual assignments
There will be 4 individual assignments in Module 1, each one is 10% of the final mark, where: ● Assignment 1 - Essay: The Role of Qualitative Methods in Political Science; ● Assignment 2 - Observation exercise and transcription; ● Assignment 3 - Interview guide; ● Assignment 4 - Conducted interview and transcription.
Group assignments
There will be 2 group assignments in Module 2, each one is 10% of the final mark, where: ● Assignment 1 - Project proposal; ● Assignment 2 - Project data collection.
Final paper and presentation
There will be 2 parts for the final research project: one will be a project presentation and one final research paper, each one is 20% of the final mark. ● All components are assessed on a 10-point scale. ● All details and assessment criteria for each assignment will be communicated timely through SmartLms. ● The final grade is rounded arithmetically.

Interim Assessment

2026/2027 2nd module
0.4 * Final paper and presentation + 0.2 * Group assignments + 0.4 * Individual assignments

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

King, G., Verba, S., & Keohane, R. O. (1994). Designing Social Inquiry : Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=329740

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Geddes, B. (1990). How the Cases You Choose Affect the Answers You Get: Selection Bias in Comparative Politics. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.88BE19B
Seawright, J., & Gerring, J. (2008). Case Selection Techniques in Case Study Research: A Menu of Qualitative and Quantitative Options. Political Research Quarterly, 61(2), 294–308. https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912907313077

Authors

Baskakova Ekaterina Iurevna

Course Syllabus